Bruins react to racist anti-Subban tweets

"This is a disgrace," Boston mayor Marty Walsh says

The Boston Bruins have reacted to a barrage of racist tweets from some fans after P.K. Subban scored the winner in double-overtime last night to seal a 4-3 victory for the Canadiens in Game 1 of their second-round series.

"The racist, classless views expressed by an ignorant group of individuals following Thursday's game via digital media are in no way a reflection of anyone associated with the Bruins organization," wrote Bruins president Cam Neely in a statement.

Boston's mayor Marty Walsh also weighed in on the tweets: "This is a disgrace. These racist comments are not reflective of Boston, and are not reflective of Bruins fans. I've said before that the best hockey in the world happens when the Bruins and Canadiens play each other, and there is no room for this kind of ignorance here."

Just days after the sports world was rocked by the controversy that saw the NBA suspend L.A. Clippers' owner Donald Sterling for life, a few Bruins fans resorted to overt racism in reacting to the goal, and the loss, with many using racial epithets to make their point.

"That stupid n***** doesn’t belong in hockey #whitesonly," wrote one about Subban.

"F*** PK Subban. F****** n*****. Wish he got sold," wrote another.

Many other Bruins fans, however, expressed their dismay at the racist tweets.

"N***** was trending in Boston because P.K. Subban scored…It’s a rare moment in my life to be ashamed to be a Bruins fan," wrote one.

Others pointed out that Subban's brother Malcolm is a goaltender in the Bruins' minor-league system, and that Jarome Iginla is one of the current team's stars.

The Bruins have the distinction of having iced the first black player in NHL history, Willie O'Ree, in 1958.

Totally disgusting that some racist hockey fans in Boston have to resort to these comments. The color of one's skin has no bearing. Not trying to sound holier than thou but this is revolting. I guess Quebec isn't the only place that has racist people amongst us. Sad, really sad!

@Kent Tyson
As an African-American New Englander who's been an avid "puckhead" for more than 40 years, the racist tweets posted against the Canadiens' P.K. Subban are not only disgraceful, but shows the ignorance of some Bruins fans of Bruins history.

These idiots obviously have no memory of the Bruins being the first team in the NHL to have a black player -- Willie O'Ree, who played for the Bruins from 1958 to 1961. Ironically, the "Jackie Robinson of Hockey" made his NHL debut on January 18, 1958 against the Canadiens.

During his tenure with the Bruins, O'Ree noted that "racist remarks were much worse in the U.S. cities than in Toronto and Montreal," which were the NHL's only Candian cities back then. "Fans would yell, 'Go back to the South' and 'How come you're not picking cotton?' -- totally ignorant of the fact that O'Ree, now 78, is a Canadian, born and raised in Fredricton, New Brunswick.

(It wasn't until 1981 that the NHL saw its first black American player -- Val James, who played seven games with the Buffalo Sabres for the 1981-82 season and four games with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1986-87 season).

It's really sad that in 2014 we are still in the mind set that creates racism. Subban is a good player in my mind. I think he is an awesome guy and I am actually baffled why so many don't like him. But what ever your thoughts on him are there is NEVER a good reason to go personal or say things to insult someone like that. I am so ashamed of anyone who thinks its ok to say horrible comments like the ones made. Once you make this personal, you have lost all sights on what it means to be a fan. I cannot imagine how other players are feeling who are African Canadian/American right now including some of the Boston Players.

Way to go Bruins Management & to the real fans who took a stance against these bigots! Coming from a Montreal fan. Entirely true that the best hockey in the world is played when Montreal and Boston are on the ice.

Racism rears its ugly head in Boston. So disappointing!What I would like to see from Bruins fans next game tomorrow is a standing ovation for PK rather than the boos that they continue to make every time he gets the puck. Come on, Bruins fans, show some sportsmanlike spirit!

@Jules
You are right. I try not to get to friendly with them because from experience they can and have come out with racist comments at any time. Then its excuses like "I don't mean you" or "you are not like them".While I look at them as individuals they look at me as a black.So don't get your feelings hurt, deal with them when you have to but no further.